2026 3rd Quarter Wichita African Union (WAU) Newsletter

July 19, 2026, WAU was honored to participate in the 116th Anniversary celebration of Saint Mark Methodist Church 'Harambe on the Hill' held at the church. The event brought together members of the church, community partners, and the community to celebrate the milestone, and share resources and information for the services provided by each of the partners present. WAU provided a cultural music performance, drumming, and storytelling. Like the other partners in the room, WAU did set up a table/booth to share information and other resources for the community. We handed out $5 vouchers from Wichita Community Engagement Center for fruits and vegetables exclusively, at corner grocery stores.

On July 29, 2026, WAU attended a breakfast kickoff for Public Schools that are supported by Love Schools. The event was funded by the Wichita Public School Foundation, held at Brick & Mortar Venue. Each public school was accompanied by its collaboration partners. WAU was with Washington Accelerated Learning Elementary School and Woodland Health and Wellness Magnet Elementary School. The agenda of the event was to learn about how the schools did last academic year and to plan for 2026-27 school year.

On August 11, 2026, WAU participated in Washington Elementary School's Open House, connecting with students and families as they prepared for the new school year. WAU provided school supplies to help students start strong, but we also added an educational twist to make the experience meaningful and fun. Before selecting their school supplies, each student was asked to identify at-least one country on a map of Africa. The students went home with a detailed map of Africa showing each country and its major cities - a resource they can continue studying and enjoying at home. The pictures were taken towards the end.

Looking ahead, WAU will support Washington Elementary School again by providing two language translators for Parent-Teacher conferences on October 13, 2026, ensuring families have the support they need for successful meetings.

WAU hosted its13th Annual Celebration on September 5, 2026, bringing together the Wichita community, guests from neighboring Kansas towns, and attendees who travelled from out of state - including visitors from as far as Louisville, Kentucky. The gathering reflected the spirit of unity and connection.

The event was honored by the presence of Honorable Mayor Lily Wu, who delivered inspiring remarks. She encouraged students by reminding them that it is never too late and everything is possible if you work hard. The celebration also welcomed Vice Mayor Dalton Glasscock, who represented the mayor during portions of the program after the mayor had left for another engagement. He graciously stepped in to assist with the scholarship award presentations and graduate recognitions, helping honor the achievements of scholarship recipients and recent graduates. Participation of the mayor and vice mayor underscored the City of Wichita's continued support for WAU's mission and its commitment to uplifting the youth across the community. A few other distinguished guests also attended the celebration, contributing to an atmosphere of pride, encouragement, and community support.

The theme of the event was 'Unity in Action, Giving Back to Wichita.' In alignment with the theme, the celebration highlighted WAU partnerships and how these collaborations have enabled WAU to expand its impact and strengthen its organizational capacity. Our partners and grassroot donors and sponsors have allowed WAU to serve more families, more students and deepen WAU engagement across Wichita.

WAU awarded five $750 scholarships to students studying at Friends University (1), Hesston College (2) and Wichita State University (2). Every year at its annual celebration, WAU awards an average of four scholarships.

Next WAU celebration will be on September 4, 2027, or around that time. Follow WAU Facebook page to not miss future events, www.facebook.com/wichitaafricanunion.WAU. Website www.wichitaafricanunion.org.

As part of its ongoing youth mentorship and development efforts, WAU recognized six recent graduates from the African community. Each of the graduates was honored with a WAU Certificate of Accomplishment Award and a small gift from contributions by WAU members. These recognitions celebrated not only academic excellence but also leadership, resilience, and positive example these young adults set for their peers. Their achievements reflect the strength and promise within the community and WAU's dedication to supporting the next generation of leaders.

Donations can be made at www.givebutter.com/WAU

September 13-14 WAU attended ONE Power Summit at Washington Plaza Hotel by ONE Campaign Advocacy, followed by advocacy meetings at Congressional offices on Capitol Hill on September 15. WAU President went with two student volunteers to advocate for continued support for life saving programs and economic opportunity initiatives for Africa. Led by a representative of ONE, we visited with congressional staffers asking congressional leaders to vote to continue the funding which has saved millions of lives in Africa and to provide oversight to ensure that the funds that are already appropriated for these programs are spent as intended.

WAU attended partners collaboration meeting at Woodland on September 22. The meeting discussed how the school is doing, the areas where help is needed and programs and activities planned for this fall.